Discover the career path of Gavin Newsom, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Gavin Newsom is an American politician and businessman currently serving as the 40th Governor of California, a position he has held since 2019. As a member of the Democratic Party, his political career includes serving as the 49th Lieutenant Governor of California from 2011 to 2019, and prior to that, as the 42nd Mayor of San Francisco from 2004 to 2011. Newsom's career reflects a long-standing involvement in California politics and government.
In 1989, Gavin Newsom graduated from Santa Clara University with a Bachelor of Science in political science.
On May 14, 1991, Gavin Newsom and his investors created the company PlumpJack Associates L.P., marking the beginning of his entrepreneurial ventures.
In 1992, Gavin Newsom started the PlumpJack Winery with financial assistance from Gordon Getty, marking the beginning of his business ventures in the wine industry.
In 1993, the PlumpJack Cafe Partners L.P. opened the PlumpJack Café on Fillmore Street, marking an expansion of Newsom's business ventures.
In 1994, Gavin Newsom and his investors opened the PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn with a PlumpJack Café, expanding the PlumpJack Group's ventures.
In 1995, Gavin Newsom and his investors opened a winery in Napa Valley and the Balboa Café Bar and Grill, further diversifying their business ventures.
In 1995, Gavin Newsom volunteered for Willie Brown's successful campaign for mayor, marking the beginning of his involvement in politics.
In 1996, Gavin Newsom and his investors opened the PlumpJack Development Fund L.P., expanding the PlumpJack Group's ventures.
In 1996, Gavin Newsom was appointed to a vacant seat on the Parking and Traffic Commission by Willie Brown, beginning his formal political career.
In 1997, Gavin Newsom was appointed by Willie Brown to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors seat vacated by Kevin Shelley, becoming the youngest member of the board.
In 1998, Gavin Newsom and his investors opened the MatrixFillmore Bar, expanding the PlumpJack Group's ventures.
In 1998, Gavin Newsom was elected to a full four-year term to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
In his 1998 reelection as Supervisor, Gavin Newsom was one of two supervisors endorsed by Rescue Muni, a transit riders group.
In November 1999, a version of the ballot measure sponsored by Gavin Newsom from Rescue Muni was approved by voters.
In 1999, Gavin Newsom and his investors opened the PlumpJack Wines shop Noe Valley branch, expanding the PlumpJack Group's ventures.
In 2000, Gavin Newsom and his investors opened PlumpJackSport retail clothing and a second Balboa Café at Squaw Valley, expanding their business portfolio.
In 2000, Gavin Newsom was re-elected to represent the second district on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, and paid $500 to appear on the Republican Party's endorsement slate.
From 1996 to 2001, Gavin Newsom's annual income was greater than $429,000 from his business ventures.
In 2002, Gavin Newsom was re-elected to represent the second district, which includes Pacific Heights, the Marina, Cow Hollow, Sea Cliff and Laurel Heights, on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
In 2002, Gavin Newsom's business holdings were valued at more than $6.9 million, reflecting the success of his entrepreneurial ventures.
On November 4, 2003, Gavin Newsom placed first in the general election with 41.9% of the vote, but faced a runoff against Green Party candidate Matt Gonzalez.
In 2003, Gavin Newsom was elected as the Mayor of San Francisco.
In 2003, Gavin Newsom's signature achievement as a supervisor was the Care Not Cash (Measure N) voter initiative, which offered care, supportive housing, drug treatment, and help from behavioral health specialists for the homeless in lieu of direct cash aid from the state's general assistance program.
On January 8, 2004, Gavin Newsom was sworn in as the Mayor of San Francisco, calling for unity among the city's political factions.
On July 1, 2004, the Care Not Cash initiative, sponsored by Newsom, began implementation, aiming to provide permanent shelter for homeless individuals in San Francisco.
On October 27, 2004, Newsom joined UNITE HERE union members on a picket line in front of the Westin St. Francis Hotel during a strike by hotel workers in San Francisco.
In 2004, Gavin Newsom became the 42nd Mayor of San Francisco, a position he held until 2011.
In 2004, Gavin Newsom sold his share of his San Francisco businesses when he became mayor, but maintained ownership in PlumpJack companies outside the city.
In 2005, Gavin Newsom had an affair with Ruby Rippey-Tourk, who was his appointments secretary at the time.
In 2005, Newsom advocated for a state law to allow California communities to create policies restricting certain breeds of dogs.
On January 31, 2007, Gavin Newsom's close friend, campaign manager, and former chief of staff Alex Tourk resigned after learning of an affair between Newsom and Tourk's wife, Ruby Rippey-Tourk, in 2005.
When the August 10, 2007, filing deadline passed, San Francisco's discussion shifted to talk about Gavin Newsom's second term. He was challenged in the election by 13 candidates.
In August 2007, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Gavin Newsom faced no significant challenge to his re-election campaign, noting he had raised $1.6 million by early August.
By 2007, approximately 2,000 homeless individuals had been placed into permanent housing with support as part of Newsom's initiative to end chronic homelessness.
In 2007, Gavin Newsom earned between $141,000 and $251,000 from his business interests, showing the continued success of his ventures.
In 2007, Gavin Newsom was re-elected as the Mayor of San Francisco, marking his second term in office.
In 2007, Newsom signed the law establishing Healthy San Francisco, providing universal health care to city residents, making San Francisco the first city in the nation to do so.
In 2008, Gavin Newsom hosted the Urban-Rural Roundtable to explore strategies for promoting regional food development and enhancing access to healthy, affordable food.
In 2008, a city audit evaluated the Care Not Cash program, initiated by Gavin Newsom, as largely successful, lowering average cash payments per person and the number of people receiving cash payments.
On April 21, 2009, Gavin Newsom announced his candidacy for governor of California in the 2010 election.
In February 2010, Newsom filed initial paperwork to run for Lieutenant Governor of California.
In 2010, Gavin Newsom was elected as the Lieutenant Governor of California.
The 2022 election was the first time since 2010 that the Democratic gubernatorial nominee did not win at least 60% of the vote.
On January 10, 2011, Gavin Newsom was officially sworn in as the Lieutenant Governor of California.
In 2011, Gavin Newsom became the 49th Lieutenant Governor of California, a position he held until 2019 when he became governor.
In 2011, Gavin Newsom completed his service as mayor of San Francisco.
In May 2012, Gavin Newsom began hosting "The Gavin Newsom Show" on Current TV and faced criticism for describing Sacramento as "dull."
From 2012 to 2013, Gavin Newsom hosted "The Gavin Newsom Show" during his time as Lieutenant Governor.
In 2012, Newsom supported a failed measure that sought to end capital punishment in California.
On February 7, 2013, Gavin Newsom released his book, "Citizenville: How to Take the Town Square Digital and Reinvent Government", discussing the Gov 2.0 movement.
In 2013, Gavin Newsom wrote the book "Citizenville," which focuses on using digital tools for democratic change.
In 2013, Newsom convened with the American Civil Liberties Union of California to produce a report concerning Marijuana Policy. This report was released in July 2015.
On November 4, 2014, Gavin Newsom was re-elected as Lieutenant Governor of California, defeating Republican Ron Nehring with 57.2% of the vote.
In 2014, Gavin Newsom was re-elected as the Lieutenant Governor of California.
On January 5, 2015, Gavin Newsom began his second term as Lieutenant Governor of California.
On February 11, 2015, Newsom announced the opening of a campaign account for the 2018 gubernatorial elections, aiming to succeed Brown as governor of California.
In July 2015, Newsom released the Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy's final report, convened with the ACLU in 2013, to inform a legalization measure on the 2016 ballot.
In November 2015, Newsom and Eloy Oakley called for the creation of the California College Promise.
In December 2015, Newsom urged the University of California to reclassify computer science courses as core academic classes.
In 2015, Gavin Newsom collaborated with the Institute for Advanced Technology and Public Policy at California Polytechnic State University to launch Digital Democracy.
In June 2016, Newsom helped secure $15 million in the state budget to support the creation of promise programs throughout California.
In September 2016, legislation sponsored by Newsom was signed by Governor Brown, initiating the planning process for expanding computer science education to all state students, starting as early as kindergarten.
In November 2016, Newsom supported Proposition 64, which legalized cannabis use and cultivation for California residents aged 21 or older.
In 2016, Newsom introduced a series of reforms at the University of California, designed to provide student-athletes with increased academic and injury-related assistance.
In 2016, Newsom supported Proposition 62, which aimed to repeal the death penalty in California, arguing against racial disparities and the death penalty's immorality.
On February 24, 2017, Newsom sent a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and President Donald Trump, urging them not to increase federal enforcement against recreational cannabis firms in California.
On June 5, 2018, Newsom finished in the top two in the nonpartisan blanket primary.
Gavin Newsom's margin of victory in 2022 was smaller than in 2018, marking a notable shift in voter support.
In 2018, Gavin Newsom was elected as the Governor of California.
In 2018, Ruby Rippey-Tourk stated that she did not believe Newsom's behavior should be associated with the #MeToo movement, emphasizing that she was a free-thinking adult at the time of the affair.
In 2018, a California law mandated expedited review of pardon requests from people facing deportation by the state Board of Parole Hearings.
On January 7, 2019, Gavin Newsom was sworn in as Governor of California.
On March 13, 2019, Gavin Newsom declared a moratorium on the state's death penalty, preventing any executions while he remained governor. He also withdrew the state's lethal injection protocol and closed the execution chamber at San Quentin State Prison.
In May 2019, Gavin Newsom pardoned seven formerly incarcerated people, including two Cambodian refugees facing deportation.
In June 2019, Gavin Newsom apologized for the genocide of Native Americans, which was approved and supported by the California state government during the 19th century. Newsom acknowledged that at least 4,500 Native Californians were killed between 1849 and 1870.
In September 2019, Gavin Newsom vetoed SB 1, which would have preserved environmental protections at the state level that were set to roll back nationally under the Trump administration's environmental policy.
In November 2019, Gavin Newsom imposed a moratorium on approval of new hydraulic fracturing and steam-injected oil drilling in California until an independent panel of scientists reviewed the permits for those projects.
In November 2019, Newsom pardoned three men who were attempting to avoid being deported to Cambodia or Vietnam.
In December 2019, Gavin Newsom granted parole to a Cambodian refugee who had been held in a California prison due to a murder case.
Gavin Newsom attended the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit, where he spoke of California as a climate leader.
In 2019, Gavin Newsom became the 40th Governor of California. Prior to this, he served as the Lieutenant Governor.
In February 2020, the Newsom administration sued federal agencies over rollbacks to protect imperiled fish in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta in 2019.
On March 4, 2020, Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in California following the first death attributable to COVID-19. This was intended to help the state prepare for and contain the virus's spread, allowing state agencies to procure resources and share information more easily and prioritize mitigation policies for the homeless population.
On March 22, 2020, Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency due to a mass die-off of trees throughout California, increasing the risk of wildfires.
In April 2020, state agencies in California resumed issuing new hydraulic fracturing permits after a moratorium was imposed in November 2019.
In August 2020, Gavin Newsom addressed the 2020 Democratic National Convention, mentioning climate change and the wildfires in California.
In September 2020, Gavin Newsom had an approval rating of 64%.
In September 2020, Gavin Newsom signed a bill allowing California transgender inmates to be placed in prisons corresponding with their gender identity, subject to certain restrictions. The Women's Liberation Front filed a lawsuit in response.
On September 23, 2020, Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to phase out sales of gasoline-powered vehicles and require all new passenger vehicles sold in California to be zero-emission by 2035.
In 2020, after Kamala Harris was elected Vice President, Newsom appointed Alex Padilla as U.S. Senator, Shirley Weber as Secretary of State, and Rob Bonta as Attorney General.
In 2020, the Newsom administration enacted some of the country's most stringent pandemic restrictions.
By January 2021, California experienced a sluggish initial rollout of vaccines, resulting in one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country, having used only about 30% of available vaccines.
In February 2021, Julie Su, the California Labor Secretary appointed by Newsom, was appointed as deputy secretary of labor by President Joe Biden.
In February 2021, a poll indicated a decline in Gavin Newsom's approval rating to 46% with 48% disapproval, attributed to public opinion regarding his management of the pandemic.
In April 2021, Gavin Newsom committed to ending the sale of gas leases in California by 2024 and ending oil extraction by 2045.
By May 2021, despite stringent pandemic restrictions, California had the 29th-highest death rate among all 50 states.
On June 10, 2021, Gavin Newsom called federal Judge Roger Benitez "a stone cold ideologue" and "a wholly owned subsidiary of the gun lobby of the National Rifle Association" after Benitez struck down California's statewide ban on assault weapons.
On September 14, 2021, the recall election against Gavin Newsom was held. The results showed that only 38% of voters supported recalling him, allowing him to remain in office.
By September 2021, over half the population of California was fully vaccinated, with the vaccination rate increasing since January.
In September 2021, Gavin Newsom signed legislation raising the minimum age to become a police officer and implementing restrictions on tear gas use and hiring practices, including the George Floyd Bill.
In October 2021, Gavin Newsom proposed a 3,200-foot (980 m) buffer between new fossil fuel extraction sites and densely populated areas in California.
By the summer of 2021, California owed $23 billion to the federal government for unemployment benefits paid out during the pandemic, which was 43% of all unemployment debt owed by 13 states at the time.
On January 13, 2022, Gavin Newsom denied parole to Sirhan Sirhan, Robert F. Kennedy's assassin, despite a parole board's recommendation for release.
In January 2022, Gavin Newsom directed the state to begin dismantling its death row in San Quentin, with plans to transform it into a "space for rehabilitation programs".
On June 30, 2022, Gavin Newsom signed a $307.9 billion state budget that pledged to make all low-income adults eligible for the state's Medicaid program by 2024 regardless of their immigration status, making California the first U.S. state to guarantee healthcare to all low-income undocumented immigrants.
On July 6, 2022, Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 184, which established the Office of Health Care Affordability, with the stated goal to "develop data-informed policies and enforceable cost targets, with the ultimate goal of containing health care costs."
In September 2022, Gavin Newsom made California the first sanctuary state for transgender youth and issued a fine to a school district for rejecting a curriculum including a biography of Harvey Milk.
In September 2022, Gavin Newsom proposed a windfall profits tax and penalty for oil companies, attributing high gas prices to corporate greed and price gouging.
In September 2022, Gavin Newsom stated that he would not run for president in 2024, citing his "vulnerable" 2021 recall election.
In 2022, Gavin Newsom signed 39 bills into law aimed at addressing California's housing crisis. These bills included land use reforms such as eliminating minimum parking requirements near mass transit, allowing housing development on commercially zoned lots, and streamlining student and faculty housing projects.
In 2022, Gavin Newsom was elected to a second term as governor, defeating Republican state senator Brian Dahle with 59.2% of the vote.
In 2022, Gavin Newsom was re-elected as the Governor of California, securing his position despite facing criticism during his governorship.
In March 2023, after Walgreens announced it would refuse to dispense abortion pills in states where it is illegal, Gavin Newsom criticized the company and threatened to cut ties, including a $54 million contract with the California state prison system.
On March 28, 2023, Gavin Newsom signed a law authorizing the California Energy Commission to set a profit threshold for oil companies, requiring them to report additional profit data, and creating a division to investigate price gouging.
An April 2023 article in The Hill by journalist Sharon Udasin discussed the inevitability of Gavin Newsom running for president.
On April 25, 2023, after his 2022 reelection, Gavin Newsom informed White House staff that he would not challenge President Biden in the Democratic primaries and endorsed Biden's reelection campaign.
In May 2023, Arnold Schwarzenegger stated that it was a "no-brainer" that Gavin Newsom would eventually run for president.
On June 8, 2023, Gavin Newsom proposed a 28th amendment to the U.S. Constitution to raise the age to buy firearms to 21, institute universal background checks for gun purchases, mandate waiting periods and ban assault weapons for civilians.
According to a NewsNation poll in June 2023, 22% of California voters wanted Gavin Newsom to enter the 2024 presidential election.
In June 2023, Gavin Newsom proclaimed June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in California.
In September 2023, after the death of Dianne Feinstein, Gavin Newsom appointed Laphonza Butler to the U.S. Senate seat, fulfilling his promise to appoint a Black woman to the position.
In October 2023, Gavin Newsom embarked on a week-long visit to China, starting in Hong Kong and including stops in Beijing, Guangdong, Jiangsu and Shanghai. He met with President Xi Jinping to discuss issues such as climate change, trade relations, and the response to fentanyl production, advocating for better U.S.-China relations.
In October 2023, Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that aimed to ban discrimination based on caste, deeming it "unnecessary".
In October 2023, Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have provided unemployment insurance to striking workers, citing concerns about the state's unemployment system. He also vetoed a bill to expand the mandatory warning given to soon to be laid off employees from 60 days to 75, extend the same protections to long-term contract workers, and prohibit employers from making laid-off employees sign nondisclosure agreements in order to receive severance.
In October 2023, Gavin Newsom vetoed several bills designed to expand access to housing assistance in California. These bills included repurposing state-owned land for affordable housing, expanding eligibility for state housing assistance, and mandating Medi-Cal coverage for housing assistance.
In October 2023, Newsom vetoed a bill to cap co-pays for diabetic insulin at $35.
On October 20, 2023, Gavin Newsom visited Israel to show solidarity during the Gaza war. He met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, other top Israeli officials, and survivors of the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel.
In November 2023, Gavin Newsom debated Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, moderated by Sean Hannity of Fox News.
In 2023, Gavin Newsom launched Campaign for Democracy, a PAC aimed at addressing "authoritarian leaders" in the U.S., which is believed to be a starting point for a potential 2028 presidential bid.
As of July 2024, Campaign for Democracy had raised $24 million for direct contributions to candidates and other spending. The group can coordinate with Newsom as long as he is not a candidate for federal office.
In July 2024, Gavin Newsom launched "Politickin'", a podcast co-hosted by Marshawn Lynch and Doug Hendrickson. After Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race that month, Newsom endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president and said he would not seek the Democratic nomination.
In August 2024, Gavin Newsom warned counties in California that failure to remove homeless encampments would result in a cut-off of state funding the following year. This announcement followed his personal visit and clearing of a Los Angeles homeless encampment without prior notification to the city.
In October 2024, Gavin Newsom signed AB 3074, also known as the "California Racial Mascots Act", which prohibits the use of derogatory Native American mascots and team names in K-12 schools. This law exempts schools that are run by recognized Native American tribes.
In December 2024, Gavin Newsom criticized President Biden for pardoning his son, Hunter Biden, stating, "I'm disappointed and can't support the decision."
After Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election, Gavin Newsom called for California lawmakers to convene later in 2024 to safeguard California's policies from the upcoming Trump administration.
In 2020, Newsom stated that if Dianne Feinstein were to retire or die before her term ended in 2024, he would appoint a Black woman to replace her.
In 2024, Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law that prohibits schools from notifying parents about a minor student's gender identity without the student's consent. The law has faced criticism from parents, conservative organizations, and Republican legislators.
Since 2025, Gavin Newsom has hosted the podcast "This is Gavin Newsom".
In 2023, Gavin Newsom's launch of "Campaign for Democracy" is thought to be a starting point for a possible 2028 presidential bid.
In anticipation of a potential 2028 presidential campaign, Gavin Newsom has adjusted his political approach to appeal to a broader electorate, including engaging with conservative voices on his podcast, "This is Gavin Newsom".
On September 23, 2020, Newsom signed an executive order requiring all new passenger vehicles sold in the state to be zero-emission by 2035.
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